Five festive Manchester afternoon teas to warm your cockles

Afternoon tea. It’s one of our great traditions. The ultimate indulgence. So what better way to see in the festive season than with a festive afternoon tea? Yes, it’s a thing.

To find you the very best festive tea in town, we’ve done the decent thing and sampled this post-lunch, pre-dinner institution at our favourite venues across the city.

Here are some of the best.

King Street Townhouse

Tis the season to indulge in the festive afternoon tea at the charming and beautifully eclectic King Street Townhouse. Launching on the 11th November, this exclusive offering begins with delicate finger sandwiches filled with a variety of seasonal fillings from turkey and stuffing to brie and cranberry. Served with the pièce de resistance, a three tier stand with homemade scones and rich clotted cream, accompanied by a selection of homemade sweet canapés from orange and chocolate macarons and saffron and pistachio cake to ginger tart and mulled wine trifle. Plus as much tea and coffee as you need to fuel the gossip with the option to add a festive champagne cocktail for the ultimate luxury. Who could resist? More info here. Also available at Great John Street Hotel.

Malmaison Manchester

The festive afternoon tea at Malmaison goes all out, with a glass of prosecco, Christmas fruit cake, mince pie, festive ginger bread biscuit, yule log, sherry trifle, turkey, cranberry and stuffing wrap, Mal slider, scones, pig in blanket brioche roll and your choice of their speciality teas. Phew. Or for something a little different to begin your New Year’s celebrations, indulge in a festive afternoon tea and a glass of prosecco to get you feeling sufficiently merry and bright for the night ahead. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are also available so you don’t need to worry about missing out. Click here to book in.

The Lowry Hotel

This luxurious 5 star hotel serves its award-winning afternoon tea in The River Restaurant and it comes very highly recommended. It includes roast turkey with pork and sage stuffing, brie mousse and cranberry, hot smoked salmon, roasted pepper relish and free range egg mayonnaise and compressed cucumber. For fancies, expect chestnut and chocolate Yule logs, fruit and almonds cake loaf, Christmas pudding eclairs, clementine bavarios with meringue drops and, of course, freshly baked scones and cream.  Wash it all down with teas or fizz or a merry G&T. For more information or to book in, click here.

Macdonald Manchester

The talented chefs at Macdonald Manchester have created a sidestep from the hugely popular traditional afternoon tea because, let’s face it, nothing says Christmas like chocolate. Think decadent chocolate ganache, white chocolate delice with mango jelly, dark chocolate tart, chocolate brownie and chocolate chip scones with jam and cream. All afternoon teas are served alongside a selection of fine finger sandwiches and your choice of freshly brewed tea or coffee. You can even upgrade to prosecco or champagne. Check out the Macdonald Manchester Facebook page for more info.

Mercure Manchester

The Mercure festive fizz afternoon tea is a winter staple, and this year they’ve gone all out. This beautifully presented afternoon tea includes finger sandwiches with traditional festive fillings and a choice of 12 teas from around the world. All tables enjoy stunning panoramic views across Piccadilly Gardens and beyond through the huge floor to ceiling windows. If you go between 2pm and 3pm you can watch corks pop with a spectacular prosecco tower. For £23.50 per person you’ll also get a glass of prosecco from the tower. The festive fizz afternoon tea takes place every Saturday and Sunday between 18th November and 24th December in The View at Level 3. Click here to book in. You can thank us later.